Marker mechanism



Oct. 21, 1958 A. PEREIRA ETAL 2,856,833

* MARKER `rvuzcmmrsm Filed April 12, 195e 4 sheets-sheet 1 I N V EN TORJ` ,4N 'ro/VE PE/es/ @A Jog Prem/2,4

MANUEL PERE/)Q4 BY HENRY PEEE/,QA

.4 TTORNEYS Oct. 21, 1958 A. PEREIRA ErAL MARKER MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1956 INVENTORS /NTO/VE PERE/RA JOE PEE/EH /Hl/VUEL PERE/R147 BY HEM/2 Y Pref/RA ATTORNEY:

Oct. 2l, 1958 A. PEREIRA ETAL 2,856,833

MARKER MECHANISM Filed April 12. 195e 4 sheets-sheet a IN V EN TOR5 JOE PERE/2A MnNL/EL ,Osea/RA BY HENRY PERE/RA Oct. 21, 1958 A. PEREIRA ETAL 2,856,833

MARKER MECHANISM Filed April 12, 195e 4 sheets-sheet 4 F'IE E FlIEi E INVENTORS Auro/VE PERE/,QA

.me PERE/RA BY MANUEL PERE/RA MEN/ev PERE/RA United Stat This" invention relates generally to .agricultural {imple-A ments andfmore` particularly. to amark'erl mechanism for .use therewith. y

Itis a general object of -thepresent invention. to provide a'novel marker mechanismin whichtheoperationof themarkers `is automatically controlled.`.

Itl is anotherobject of the present .invention to provide a marker mechanism for use witlrfarmtools and implements ofi the type .which `arefraised -into an `inoperative position andlowered :into i anV operative'position.

Itis still a further 'object of thepresent invention to provide:` a marker` mechanism which automatically` controls Va 4pair =of marker Varms whereby ,bothwof `the` markers are-.in `a lraised. position when the tooll is lifted to an inoperative position.. and fan i. alternate one Voflthe markersds lowered when the.tool is lowered into its operativeV positionr Thus,A the farmenneed not concern himself.` with` raising .and tripping .the markers when he.

turnsat the Vendof .a traverse-of a field.

It-is still a further `object of thewpresentainvention to ,provideas markermechanism ...which lautomatically` controls aA pair- Vof markers -wherehythedown-:marker is raised and latched i and .the opposite marker is unlatched when the implement islifted into-.the. inoperative position,

both markersaremaintained `ir1\theraised position with the tool `in` theinoperative position, and .the opposite marker` is lowered `whennthe .implementis v`lowered `into the operative position. .n 4

Itis anOthen-objectotthe present-.invention to provide a marker mechanism in-which theyoperation: ofnmarkers is automatically:controlled,..which.mayf be attached to farm implementswithoutnecessitating alterations` thereof,-l

es Patent whichis relativelyinexpensive tomanufacturefand" which is reliablein-operation.=

These andl-iotherfobjectsofthe invention-.will becomef-I more fclearly apparenti fromthe-followings descriptionvv readI lconjunction i. with -the accompanying r. drawings.;-

Referringeto the idrawingst. w y Figure 1 is a frear elevationali .v iewv` :of an. .implementwith, a pair-of .markers.schematically.illustrated; ,4

Figure. -2 is fa plan view. of ther implement with. ,one of the, markers schematically..illustrated;W

Figure 3- is a sidelelevational view showing. thev implement alowered .into operativer position with` the :marker: mechanism.schematically ,illustrated` Figure 4is a side elevationalyiew: shovvingrthesimple mentraised to the .inoperative View,A Withl-the.f marker` mechanism schematically'4 illustrated;

FigufrejS is a'rearelevtona'l vie'wlofthe marker mechanism the position' obtainedWhendthe'.in'lplerrienti` raised'position and tleothe"'armj "unlatched frand rin Figure" 6 is' "an'enl'arg'e'd viw off the" latch" roller" ofthe marker mechanism when the implement is lowered;

856,833 Patented Oct. 21, 1958 Figure 8 shows the "marker armbeingelevated as they implement is raised into the inoperative position and shows the vlatch just prior to -latching of the associated arm;

Figure 9 is a view taken along vthe line 9`9 of Figure 8.

The marker mechanism of our invention may be used with any farm implement or tool of the type which is lifted or raised into an inoperative position and lowered into an operative position. The `mechanism Vcomprises a pair of spaced marker arms. to the markers and serves to raise the'markers as the tool is lifted and to lower the appropriate one of the markers .when the -tool is lowered. The line passes over a pair of .pulleys disposed .between the markersv and which are adapted to move with the. tool 4and over one ormore stationarypulleys. As the implement is raised, the amount of line required between the stationary and movable pulleys is `increased thereby raising the` marker which is in marking position.

The markers are adapted to engage a latching mechay nism. The latching mechanism is provided with a release assembly which serves to release the markers alternately whereby when the tool is lowered,..an alternate one of the markers is lowered. Thus, as the farmer traverses the fieldand reaches the end of the traverse, he liftsl the tool to turn the marker, whereby-the marker which is down is raised and `serves to release the latch associated with the opposite marker,- and itself- .becomes latched.` Both markers remain in the raised Vposition when the tool is in theinoperative or lifted position. After the farmer hasturned andilowers -the tool-y the opposite'- markerislowered to engagethe soil.`

Referring `totFigure 1,-we have shown an agricultural s implementor tool -whichr comprises abar\-11 to which are attached a plurality of-ground` engaging!` tines 12. Posts 13 and 14 are mounted on opposite ends of the tool. For example, they-may loe-suitably attached to the ends ofthe itraverse bar 11 orianother memberwhich forms a partl of the implement The posts 13 and 14 serve to mount the latches 16 and ,17 respectively. Latch release roller assemblies 18 and -19`are pivotally mountedl on the posts 13 and 14 and engage-the latches in a manner to be presently described The latch release roller assemblies are interconnected bymeans of la rigid connecting link-21 whichlextends 4across the toolrand has its endspivotally connected to `the roller assemblies. The rigid member 21 maybe slidablyreceivedin a supporting` post 22 which `is suitably/.attached to the implement, as, for example, to the bar 11..` The rigid link-21 serves to urge the rollers transverselyof the implement whereby the rollers serve torelease fone^or theotherfof the latches. A pair of markerlarms23 `and 24 are pivotally mounted at theends ofthe-implem'ent. The markerarms kmay be lowered as shown'on the right-handside `of the gure whereby the markers 26 and 27 engage lthe ground and form a marking furrow. The marker arms may swing upwardlyto belatched by the" associated latch 16 or 17.

Suitable levers 28 and `29 are connected to the arms 23 and 24 respectively. i A continuous'exible line 30, for example, a cable, has its'lends attachedito the arms 28 and 29 and extends toward the center of the implement where it engages the pulleys 31 and '32.1 The cable then"` engages one or more'stationary"pulleys, as, for example, the pair of spaced pulleys 33 and' 34. As illustrated', the. pulleys `33 and 34v are vmounted on the tractor.

It will become apparent however, from the ensuing de scription, that the pulleys may be mounted on any portion i A exible line is secured members 36 and 37 may be suitably reinforced by a transverse member 38.

The implement illustrated is supported by the spaced arms 41 and 42 which have their ends pivotally connected to the implement and to the rear of the tractor 43. An arm 44 is spaced between the members 41 and l2 and serves to rotate the same in response to pressure from the piston arm 46 of the hydraulic cylinder 47. Thus, by energizing the hydraulic cylinder, the arm 46 is drawn forward whereby the tool is lifted as illustrated in Figure 4. The tractor illustrated is of the track laying type, but it is to be understood that any suitable farm implement of the track laying or the Wheel type may be employed. Further, the implement may carry its own hydraulic cylinder, in which event, portions of the implement are raised, while other portions are stationaryF The particular embodiment shown is illustrative only and the invention is applicable to any type of implement adapted to be raised and lowered.

As previously described, the pulleys 33 and 34 are mounted on a portion of the unit which is stationary and the pulleys 31 and 32 are mounted on a portion which moves as the implement is raised and lowered. By properly locating the pulleys 33 and 34 more line is required to span the distance between the pulley 31 over the pulleys 33 and 34 and back to the pulley 32 when the implement is raised than when the implement is lowered. As a result, both marker arms are lifted when the implel ment is raised. The location of the stationary pulleys and the length of the cable is chosen whereby both arms will be held in the raised position when the tool is in the inoperative position and the unlatched arm will be lowered when the tool is in the operative position. Thus it is seen that as the operator reaches the end of a traverse of a field and lifts the tool to turn, both markers will be automatically raised where they will not engage fences and other obstacles. The marker which is raised will serve to operate the marker mechanism in a' manner which will be presently described, whereby when the tool is lowered, the opposite marker is lowered.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 5, we have shown the construction of the latch mechanism in detail. The posts 13 and 14 are shown next to one another, it being understood, of course, that these posts are disposed at the ends of the farm implement with which the marker is'being used. Only the lower portion of the marker arms 23 and 24 are shown. As illustrated, the side member 36 is formed of tubular material which ts over the rod 51. The member 36 may be suitably adjusted along the rod 51 and then clamped in position by means of a bolt 52. The other end of the rod is pivotally mounted at one end of the pin 53. lt is, of course, understood that a like construction is used for the spaced member 37 (Figure 2), not shown in this gure. A lever arm 54 has one end suitably attached to the rod 51, for example, by welding, and its other end engaged by the flexible line 30. A reinforcing member 56 is provided between the end of the member 54 and the member 51 and may be suitably secured to both members, as, for example, by welding. The opposite marker arm 24 is of the same construction and therefore like reference characters will refer to like parts. Referring particularly to Figure 9, the spaced members Slare shown engaging the transverse pin 53 which is journalled in the members 58.

A transverse angle member 59 (Figures 5 and 9) is attached to the spaced rods 51. The transverse member is suitably located along the arm whereby it is engaged by the notch 60 formed in the latch 17, as will be presently described. The transverse member 59 also serves to support a plate 61 which has one end suitably affixed thereto, as, for example, by welding. The other end of the member 61 pivotally mounts the push member 62. A bolt 63 passes through the member 61 through an enlarged opening in the member 62 and is adapted to accommodate a spring 64 thereon. A suitable washer 65 4 and nut 66 serve to hold the spring 64 on the bolt 63. The head of the bolt 63 is suitably welded to the member 61 whereby it may not move with respect thereto. This assembly serves to urge the pushing member 62 towards the plate 61.

The latches 16 and 17 are preferably formed from an angle arm whereby the surfaces 68 are provided on which the rollers 69 may ride for purposes to be presently described. The latches 16 and 17 are pivotally attached to the associated post. Plates 71 are suitably attached to the posts, as, for example, by welding, to form surfaces 72k and 73 which limit the movement of latches 16 and 17 in their two positions, as illustrated in Figure 5 in the left and right-hand portions of the drawing. An ear 76 is suitably attached to the upper surface of the latch and extends outwardly therefrom. The ear 76 serves to mount the deection rod or member 77. For example, the member 77 may comprise a threaded rod which accommodates a pair of nuts 78 and 79 which serve to engage the ear 76 to hold the deflection member secure.

Rollers 69 are each secured to a rod 81 which is accommodated within a cylindrical housing 82. A spring 83 is inserted between the end of the rod 81 and the closed end of the cylinder 82 and serves to urge the rod 81 outward. The closed end of the cylindrical housing 82 is pivotally mounted on the associated post.

The roller assembly is pivotally engaged by the ends of the tie rod or link 21. The length of the tie rod 21 is predetermined whereby the rollers 69 will assume positions as illustrated inFigure 5. The tie rod may be formed in two portions with a member which is adapted to engage the portions whereby the length of the rod may be adjusted to accommodate various spacings between the rollers such as might be encountered when mounting the marker mechanism on different tools. One of the rollers will tend to urge the associated latch into an unlatched position, while the other rollers will tend to urge the latch into a latched position. I. e., the rollers 69 will alternately assume positions on one or the other side of the pivot point. Abutments 86 are formed on the ends of the rods and are adapted to be engaged by the push members 62, as will be presently described.

The cylindrical portion 82 of the roller assembly is engaged by U-shaped members 87 which guide the assembly and serve to limit the travel in either direction as the tie rod is urged to the right or to the left.

Operation of the marker mechanism may be best understood with reference to Figures 5, 7 and 8. Referring to Figure 5, the marker mechanism is shown in the position which is attained when the implement is in the inoperative position. The right-hand marker in Figure 5 is latched with the roller to the left of the pivot point. The push member 62 is deected downwardly by means of the deflection member 77 whereby the link 21 and the l abutment 86 may move to the right to unlatch the latch 17 when the opposite marker is raised, as will be presently described. When the tool is lowered, the distance between the stationary and movable pulleys will be decreased whereby the left-hand marker will be lowered to its operating position as shown in Figure 7. When the tool is again raised into the inoperative position, the distance between the movable and xed pulleys will be increased and the cable will exert a pull on the lever 54 to lift the marker as indicated by the arrows 91 and 92 (Figure 8). The pushing member 62 is in contact with the member 61. As the marker is raised, the push member engages the abutment 86 to urge the tie rod 21 to the right. As the tie rod 21 is urged to the right, the lefthand roller 69 travels to the right as shown in Figure 8.

When it has travelled past the pivot point it urges the permit travel of the link to the left when the opposite marker is lifted.

Referring now to Figure 5, it is seen that the right- Ihand abutment can travel t-o the right whereby the roller may move to the right past the pivot point and urges the latch upwards thereby releasing the right-hand marker. Thus it is seen that the left-hand marker which is raised is latched, while the right-hand marker is unlatched thereby being in readiness to be lowered when the tool is lowered. When the tool is again lowered the righthand marker will be lowered into the operative position. The markers will then be alternately raised and lowered as the implement is raised and lowered.

We claim:

1. A marker mechanism for use with implements of the type which are raised into an inoperative position and lowered into an operative position comprising a pair of markers, mounting means, a latch associated with each of said markers pivotally mounted on said mounting means, a roller assembly associated with each of said latches and pivotally mounted on said mounting means whereby the roller engages the associated latch, a link serving to engage said roller assemblies, an abutment carried by each of said roller assemblies, a push member carried by said markers and adapted to engage said abutment, means for raising the operative marker when the implement is raised7 said push member engaging the associated abutment to push the rollers whereby the raised marker is latched and the opposite marker is unlatched.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for raising the markers comprise a flexible line having its ends attached to the markers, a pair of pulleys disposed between said markers receiving said line and mounted for movement with said implement, and a .stationary pulley receiving said line whereby when the implement is lifted the relative movement between the stationary and the pair of pulleys serves to bring the line under tension to raise the operative marker.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,585,992 Bjerkan Feb. 19, 1952 2,586,356 Lewis Feb. 19, 1952 2,618,214 Ball Nov. 18, 1952 2,795,180 Christofferson June 1l, 1957 

